New Film Explores Possitive Influence of Nature

Children & Nature Network (C&NN): "Vermont filmmaker Camilla Rockwell’s new documentary explores how time spent in nature influences child health and development, and suggests ways that adults can revive young people's appetite for the outdoors. As Rockwell tells the Burlington Free Press, she was inspired to create the film after reading Richard Louv's Last Child in the Woods."

Watch a preview of the film here

Portland Zoo Lights

Looking for some fun, holiday fun for the whole family, then check out the Portland Zoo Lights. A million lights and more than 200 displays jump out at you from different places. Penguins, monkeys frogs and more swing jump and dance around. Click here for a video preview!

Zoo lights are on display now through Jan. 3 (closed on 12/24 and 25th) from 5:00pm through 8:00 pm (8:30 pm Friday and Saturday) every day.

Join the Christmas Bird Count

From December 14 through January 5 tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas take part in an adventure that has become a family tradition among generations. Families and students, birders and scientists, armed with binoculars, bird guides and checklists go out on an annual mission - often before dawn. For over one hundred years, the desire to both make a difference and to experience the beauty of nature has driven dedicated people to leave the comfort of a warm house during the Holiday season.

Each of the citizen scientists who annually braves snow, wind, or rain, to take part in the Christmas Bird Count makes an enormous contribution to conservation. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this longest-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations - and to help guide conservation action.

Get involved by clicking here.

Buy Local Week

Hope everyone had a nice relaxing Thanksgiving Day! Sunday Nov. 29th kicks off Portland's "Buy Local Week" to create an economic stimulus package for the local economy.

Every dollar spent with a locally-owned, independent business triples its' impact in the local economy because of the multiplier effect: dollars that come in to local businesses recirculate to service providers, suppliers and employees who continue to spend those dollars, locally.

The Sustainable Business Network of Portland is sponsoring "Buy Local Week" and you can win a $500. shopping spree at New Seasons Market click here for pdf contest flyer.

Flora and Fauna is offering a 10% discount on all of our locally produced products - from feeders to suet - earrings, locally roasted coffee, bird houses, really delicious locally grown hazelnuts and much more.

Buy Local

1. Supporting local business keeps dollars in our local economy. For every $100. spent at a local business $45. stays in the community and creates jobs. The same $100. purchase spent at a national chain or franchise store, only $14. stays in the community.

2. Local, independent businesses keep Portland unique and create neighborhoods. Chain stores threaten to change the character of neighborhoods.

3. Locally owned businesses create more local jobs and in many cases with better wages.
4. Local business owners live in our neighborhoods and directly and indirectly help protect our environment. They have a stake in the livability of our neighborhoods. Chain stores set up in suburban malls, creating sprawl, heavy traffic, and pollution.

5. Local, independent businesses nurture the community and are committed to investment of our city. Owners of local businesses have expertise and passion for the goods they sell and are generally much more accessible than executives of large corporations. Local business owners take a greater interest in their customers, who are after all, their neighbors.

6. In a world that is becoming increasingly homogenized, local, independent businesses create and help to preserve one-of-a-kind and diverse communities.

As a locally owned, independent, family owned business we believe that these are all important issues to consider when shopping for products. We always try to support vendors who are local for all of these reasons. This month we are featuring some local vendors and artists who craft products for our store. In addition to the excellent quality of the products they produce, because they are produced locally the environmental impact is lessened in shipping and packaging of products, creating more competitive pricing! With the holiday season approaching please consider these issues as you shop and help support the local businesses.

This November Flora & Fauna is offering a 10% discount on all of our locally produced merchandise. Look for the locally made sticker as you shop and support a local businessperson and save.

Canned Food Drive - Help and Save!

Flora & Fauna is joining with the Portland Police Bureau's Hope for the Holidays canned food drive. Bring in non-perishable food items now through December 20th and help families who are in need of some assistance during the holidays.

In addition to the great feeling you get by helping others, Flora & Fauna will offer a $1.00 discount per can donated, up to five cans on purchases of $20.00 or more! Our goal is to collect at least 600 lbs. of food (that's three large barrels) but we will need your help. Check your cupboards for extra items or next time you're shopping remember those in need and drop them off at the store. Feel free to bring in as much as you can and let your family and friends know how they can help families in need. The need this year may be greater than at any other time recently. Thank you!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from Flora and Fauna and the Holman Family! We've created a video to help get you into the spirit, featuring Don, Kelli, Ariana, Caleb and Aidan. Click here http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/1X19O4KcJYKXepn4

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION

There is only two days until the International Day of Climate Change. Find an action of interest and take part. Click here for a list of actions http://www.350.org/map

Blog Action Day - Climate Change

Today is Blog Action Day, an effort to create awareness and solutions to climate change around the world. Over 5000 bloggers from 126 countries are participating in this event!

Climate change impacts nearly all aspects of our lives, from business and technology to food, transportation and travel. It's a large issue, but we all can be involved and make a difference. A great way to start change is to find out your "carbon footprint" by using a carbon calculator that offers a ballpark figure of a person's, business's or household's "carbon footprint" — that is, all the greenhouse gases emitted either directly or on one's behalf. The Nature Conservancy offers a good calculator and tips on how to lower your footprint.

After you've calculated your footprint you can find ways to reduce your number and take action. Another worldwide event on October 24th is the International Day of Climate Action where you can take part at events around the world!

Salmon Run at Oxbow

Now is a great time to see the fall Chinook salmon run on the Sandy River at Oxbow park! In past years Oxbow hosted a Salmon Festival in October which was a great event. Unfortunately this year there will be no festival, but the salmon are still there! Best viewing of spawning locations is down the trail at picnic area D and upstream from the boat ramp. Good numbers of eagles can usually be seen scavenging on the spawned-out salmon.

If you visit this weekend the park is providing guides who will take you on a Salmon Walk and answer questions. There is an entrance fee to get into the park, but with all the nature activities in the park it is well worth it.

Get Out in Nature - Mt Tabor Park

One of Portland’s “nature jewels” is the extinct volcanic butte Mt. Tabor. A 200 acre green space, it is a birding hotspot, especially in earl spring and early summer when many spring migrants are abundant. The park bird list is nearly 200 species, not bad considering it’s only about 5 miles from downtown Portland!

The summit of Mt. Tabor is 643 ft. and has some of the best vistas of Portland to the west and Mt. Hood to the east. The park has an off leash pet area, several miles of paved trails, and a picnic area. Located between Division and Belmont and 60th and 71st in SE Portland. Enjoy!

Watch Hawks at Bonney Butte

Hawk Watch International has been monitoring the fall raptor migration at Bonney Butte on the southeastern flanks of Mt. Hood in northcentral Oregon since 1994. This ongoing effort monitors long-term trends in populations of raptors using this part of the Pacific Coast Flyway through the Cascade Mountains. The project runs from 27 August through 31 October each year. Annual counts typically range from 2,500-4,500 migrant raptors of up to 18 species. The most commonly seen species are the Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Turkey Vulture, and Golden Eagle, but this site is noted for relatively high numbers of Merlins (up to 100 or more per year).

We've visited Bonney Butte for several years and it is well worth the adventurous trip up the mountain (high clearance vehicles only). Viewing up close from the blind is awesome, and you may be able to release a netted bird. Click here for a pdf site brochure

Hey everyone,
Most of you know that I'm committed to solving the climate crisis. If you're like me, you're convinced about the urgency of this problem, but don't know what you can do that will make a real difference. That's why I'm writing you today.

I just watched a really cool video from the crew at www.350.org. It's about new global campaign focused on making sure the world takes the kind of big, bold, fast action that we need to solve this crisis--check it out: http://www.350.org/video
I think you'll agree that it's beautiful--I've included the link so you can pass it on to your friends!

On October 24, 2009, millions of people around the globe will take action in their own communities, and call on world leaders to sign a climate agreement that leads us down the road to 350. We already have events planned at some of the world's most iconic places -- Australia's Great Barrier Reef, in front of the Pyramids in Egypt, in India's Himalayas and at the Great Lakes in the USA -- but we need you to host an event in your community. It doesn't have to be large (though that would be great), but it does need to display the number 350 in some visual way. Be creative!

You can organize a rally, a hike up the closest peak, an educational forum, a community art project, or anything else. Just make sure you have fun, and represent 350 somehow -- on a banner or a sign, on your t-shirt, or by spelling it out with your bodies.
This may not sound like it could really help, but it does--already we've had churches ringing their bells 350 times, 350 bicyclists circling through cities, even 350 people standing on their heads. The resulting media coverage has helped spread the word fast, so that many groups have joined this campaign.

To sign up, please go to http://350.org/oct24 And make sure you snap a photo of your event and upload it to our website. We'll take those photos and pass them to our global leaders. Together we can let them know: 350 represents safety, and anything that doesn't meet the 350 test is gambling with our future.

Oregon Wild Wednesday: A Comeback for Condors

In 1987, only 22 California Condors remained. As part of a national recovery plan for the bird, all 22 were moved into a captive breeding program.

Today, there are over 300 living condors and a captive breeding site right here in Oregon.On Wednesday, October 21 at Roots Brewery in Portland, come find out how scientists saved this majestic bird from the brink of extinction and the work being done for a possible return to Oregon. Presenting at the quarterly Oregon Wild Wednesday event is David Moen, species recovery biologist with the Oregon Zoo. He'll take us on a trip around the state to see where condors may one day find a home in the wilds of Oregon.

What: Oregon Wild Wednesday – A free quarterly event open to all-ages. RSVP is not required, but we encourage you to arrive early.

When: Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 6-7:30 pm

Who: David Moen, Oregon Condor Restoration Specialist – and – Oregon Wild Klamath Campaign Coordinator Ani Kame’enui.

Where: Roots Organic Brewery, event room
1520 SE 7th Avenue
Portland, OR 97214

Vaux’s Swift at Chapman School

If you’ve never seen the Vaux’s Swifts swarm and dive into Chapman Elementary Schools chimney you should make plans to do so.

Starting in Mid-September about 40,000 swifts gather in swarms above the school, swooping and diving back and forth before plunging into the chimney. Hundreds of people gather each night to watch the spectacle that starts about an hour prior to sunset. Birds of Prey gather as well to attempt any easy meal with so much to choose from. Chapman is located on the corner of NW 25th and Pettygrove. The show starts in mid-September and into early October before the birds migrate to Central and South America.

Save the World Food Supply - Save the Bees!

I've just finished the book "A Spring Without Bees" by Michael Schacker about Colony Collapse Disorder. I recommend it to anyone who has concerns about CCD, global food supply, organic food, etc...

“A Spring Without Bees, How colony collapse disorder has endangered our food supply” is the next “Silent Spring”. Michael Schacker’s book is the first to thoroughly investigate colony collapse disorder and related bee die-offs and determine the major suspected cause of colony collapse disorder (CCD). Yet unlike many books about environmental crisis, this one gives us hope with clear answers and solutions.

Join Plan Bee Central and find out what you can do to help here

Flora & Fauna Seed Sale

Now through August 20th we are holding our Summer Seed Sale. Save on all your birds favorite seeds!

Black Oil Sunflower in 40 lbs. bags only $18.95, Nature's Cafe Premium Sunflower chips 20 lbs only $29.95 . . . See all the details and sale prices at our website http://floraandfauna.org/summer_seed_sale.htm

Experience the Willamette During RiverFest!

RiverFest offers a family-friendly chance to come down by the riverside, get out on the water, take river tours, enjoy live music, learn first-hand about the river's history and environment, clean-up the riverbank, and view river spectacles.

We are pleased to announce the 2nd Annual RiverFest this August 20-23, 2009. Popular attractions from last year return, including The Freshwater Trust Portland Triathlon, Portland Audubon events, the Festival at South Waterfront, Kayak Tours, and the SOLV Cleanup. We have also added many new and exciting events for the whole family to enjoy. Join us this summer to celebrate the river on the river.

For more info check out http://www.portlandriverfest.org/

Trade in Your Old Feeder and Save

Got an old, broken or dirty feeder that you would like to replace with a new feeder? Now you can trade in your unwanted feeders and save 25% off the price of a new feeder. Now through August 15th your unwanted feeders will be collected, repaired, cleaned and donated to local schools, after-school programs and community gardens for others to enjoy and discover the joys of feeding birds.

You can trade in old hummingbird or seed feeders, no matter what the condition and save on a new one. Last year we collected over 60 feeders and this year we would like to top 100 with your help.

If you or someone you know would like to receive a recycled feeder for a school or organization please contact Don at 503-252-2473 or email don@floraandfauna.org.

Pick up a new Woodlink feeder and capture a great picture and perhaps win a prize in Woodlinks photo contest.

Woodlink Photo Contest

Woodlink, a manufacturer of bird feeders is having a photo contest (or video) of wild birds using one of their feeders. Grand prize is $1000.!

For more details you can check the website

Spring Fever Sale this weekend

Happy first day of spring! To kick off the new season Flora & Fauna is holding a 3-day sale with deep discounts.

*All birdbaths, rainchains, gazing globes and stands, plants and planters are 30% off!

*All seed bird feeders, suet feeders, squirrel feeders, garden art, Carruth plaques, Black Gold organic soil, and natural fertilizers are 20% off!

*Vegetable seed special - purchase 5 packs of veggie/flower seeds - get one free!

Plus if you spend $50.00 this weekend we'll give you a $5.00 gift certificate to use on a future visit.

Now is a great time to get out in nature and enjoy - Flora & Fauna is the place to start!

Find more at www.floraandfauna.org

Become a Citizen Scientist

The USA National Phenology Network brings together citizen scientists, government agencies, non-profit groups, educators and students of all ages to monitor the impacts of climate change on plants and animals in the United States. The network harnesses the power of people and the Internet to collect and share information, providing researchers with far more data than they could collect alone. Sign up at http://www.usanpn.org/?q=home and simply record your observations online.

Vote Earth for Earth Hour:With the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Vote Earth is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Flora and Fauna supports "Vote Earth" and encourages others to take part. Check out http://www.earthhour.org for more!

Welcome to FFNC's Nature News

Here's a great way for you to keep up-to-date with items that may interest you in nature. We will post bird sightings, garden events and news about the environment as well as information about new products and special at Flora and Fauna Nature Company.

You're welcome to add comments and add details. Thanks and Enjoy!